Electrical control



Nov. 11, 1941. I R, SOM S 2 2,262,061

ELECTR I CAL CDNTROL Filed May 11, 1939 INVENTOR lgz'chard Mefimers ORNEY Patented Nov. 11, 1941 ELECTRICAL- CONTROL Richard M. Somers, West Orange, N. J., assignor Thomas A. Edison,

Incorporated, West Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 11, 1939, Serial No. 272,937

1 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical control, and more particularly to such control of the position of a movable system-which may be a system,

itself of any nature, which it is desired to move selectively between two positions.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a novel, improved and simplified control of the type described.

An electrical control for a movable system as above-mentioned was disclosed in the co-pending application of myself and Charles T. Jacobs, Serial No. 266,338, filed April 6, 1939. In that control there were employed electromagnetic means for provoking the movement of the movable system in its two directions and a switch or control means operable to supply alternately to the electromagnetic means actuating currents at two difierent voltages, the electromagnetic means being voltage-controlled so as to maintain the movable system in step with the control means; a common conductor for the two respective actuating currents was employed. It is an object of the instant invention to provide a control of very generally similar character, but simplified and improved thereover.

In the co-pending application abovementioned the electromagnetic means comprised a pair of electromagnetic devices together with means for alternating the supply of actuating current thereto. An object of the instant invention is to provide an effective control of the type described operable without alternation of the supply of actuating currents to respective electromagnetic means.

Another object is to provide a control of the type described wherein two appropriate electro magnetic devices are combined in a single unit, with attendant reduction of complexity and cost.

Other and allied objects will more fully ap pear from the'following description andthe appended claims.

In the description of the invention hereinafter set forth reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a schematic diagram of a control embodying my invention in one form, certain parts being illustrated in elevation and the solenoid l2 in cross-section; and

Figure 2 is a similar diagram of a control embodying my invention in a modified and somewhat simplifled form.

In the illustration of my invention I have shown a movable system comprising a lever l, pivoted as at l' and rockable for example between stato control any desired device 4, this having been wholly schematically illustrated in the drawing. Purely as an example, the device 4 may be a clutch for other apparatus, movable between engaged and disengaged positions by the movement of the lever I.

For provoking movement of the lever I between its two positions there has been illustrated an electromagnetic assembly comprising as one electromagnetic device a solenoid l2 and plunger- I4 therefor, and as another electromagnetic device an electromagnet II and armature l3 therefor. A connection is provided between the plunger I4 and the lever i, so that axial movement of the plunger rocks the lever. This connection may for example be a pivotal one; it may be desirable in certain instances, however, that it also be a yieldable one, and I have illustrated itas provided by an aperture Main the enlarged flattened righthand end portion Nb of the plunger, by a pin to extending forwardly from the upper portion of the lever I through the aperture Ma, and by a spring l8 tensioned from the forward end of pin lc to a pin M0 extending forwardly from the plunger end portion Mb to the left of the aperture l4athe spring 18 serving to urge the pin lc against the lefthand end of the aperture Ma. The plunger i4 is biased to'a rightward or first position, wherein its major portion is withdrawn from the coil We of the solenoid; by way of example, a biasing means has been shown as the expansion spring 5 disposed axially within the coil lZc between the lefthand plunger extremity and a screw 5a adjustable in a bracket 5b at the lefthand solenoid extremity. This rightward plunger biasing of course biases the movable system, or lever l, rightwardly; and a stop for rightward movement of both plunger and system is of course provided by the righthand stop member 2 abovementioned.

It will be understood that upon actuation of the solenoid 52 the plunger M will be subjected to leftward movement, for example to a point where the spring 5 is fully compressed. The components are so apportioned that this leftward plunger movement will be sufficient, and preferably at least somewhat more than sufficient, to move the lever i into its second position, of contact with the lefthand stop member 2; the additional plunger movement over that sufficient for full lever movement, or overshooting by the plunger, may be automatically taken up in the yielding of the connection between the plunger and the lever l-i. e., in expansion of the spring I8 abovetionary stop members 2. The lever I may serve 55 mentioned.

Secured to and extending downwardly from the end portion Mb 01 the plunger I4 is 9. lug i6; and underneath the plunger is provided a latch for engaging this lug, and so retaining the plunger, when the plunger has been moved leftwardly as abovementioned. The latch proper is shown as i5, formed upwardly from the righthand extremity of a latch member live; this member is pivoted at its lefthand extremity, and is biased upwardly to a normal horizontal position, of contact with the bottom of a stationary stop member i9, as by a strong spring ll. The armature l3 abovementioned is secured to the bottom of and is carried by the latch member 15a; and below the armature, spaced therefrom when the latch memhe: is in normal position, is the pole tip H of the electromagnet ii abovementioned.

With the eleotromagnet unactuated and the latch member accordingly normal position, the latch to c2 lug ill; and that lug, if tLe le" oi e ch, will be retained thereby. The co penents encrtloned-that he lug b be held. in its second position with expansion of spring it; the complete 3 plunger movement, ahovcmentioned as occurring as erahly in wholly out of the horizontal path of the lug.

lhereupon of course the lug I6 and plunger 54 will move rightwardly under the force of spring 5 to rock. the lever i into its first (illustrated) position; thus a temporary actuation of the elec tromagnet it alone is suiilcient to provoke a movement of the movable system from its second to its first position. And if the righthand extremity of the latch 55 be bevelled, as has been illustrated by way of example, a temporary actuation of the solenoid 1! alone would be sufficient to move the plunger leftwardly and bring the movable system from its first to its second position; the lug IS in its leftward movement would cam the latch out of its path, the latch immediately returning under the influence of its biasing spring l1.

It follows that the movable system may be 8.1- ternately moved between its two positions by alternate actuations of the solenoid i2 and the electromagnet II. It is permissible, however, that each actuation of the solenoid I2 be accompanied by an actuation of the electromagnet I lin other words, that each leftward attraction of the plunger accompanied by a releasing movement of the latch i5provided the apparatus is arranged so that upon cessation of the joint actuation the latch will return toward normal position at least sufficiently to catch the lug I6 before the lug, in its rightward movement under the force of spring 5, has passed the latch. The apparatus is readily so arranged, for example, by making sufflcient the distance of overshooting by the plunger and lug oi the position of retention abovementioned, or by rendering small enough (relative to the effective .1 the plunger-lever con" 3 i /hen the electremagnet is lies in the horizontal e r.

mass of the plunger l4 and components moved therewith) the efiective mass of the armature and latch and latch member l3i5l5a, or by rendering strong enough the spring IT, or by two or all of these expedients. Accordingly I have shown the aperture a large enough, and the apparatus otherwise suitably apportioned, to accommodate a substantial overshooting by plunger and lug, and I have shown the armature and latch and latch member (of which the latter two may be of a material of relatively low specific gravity) as of quite small dimensions and maximum radius about their pivoting point.

To provide most simply an alternation of actuations of (a) both solenoid l2 and electromagnet ii and (b) electromagnet if only, I may connect the coils (lie and lie, respectively) of these devices together for joint current supply thereto, and mar/alternately supply thereto currents (u) at a voltage sumcient tor actuation of both solenoid and electromagnet and (b) at a voltage sufficient only for actuation of the e1ec tromagnet. This involves arranging the solenoid it so that it will be actuated-i. e., energized in r sufficient degree to subject plunger it to the leftward movement abovemen.tioned-by current only at the higher of two voltages, the electromagnet H being actuable (to attract armature l5) current either at that higher or at a 'ower voltage. Purely as an example of a means for rendering the solenoid actuable only as stated, there has been illustrated in series with its coil lfic a resistance H]; but it will be under stood that the means may consist in any element or elements in or associated with the solehold, such as the solenoid coil itself (I), then wound for ineffectiveness when supplied with current at only the lower voltage.

It will be understood that the currents are supplied at two voltages, one of which exceeds a predetermined value, and the other of which of course highly desirable for the avoidance of wasteful continued current flows, overheating oi the coils 12c and I I0, and the like. The means for supplying these actuating currents may comprise a current source 20, a control switch S hereinafter described, and conductor means connecting them together and with the interconnected coils I20 and He. Thus one terminal of the source 20 may be connected to the control switch S through the conductor 2|. The other terminal of the source 20 may be connected to the control switch S through the conductor 22, in which the electromagnetic means is serially connected to be controllably supplied with current; in other words, the conductor 22 may be considered as broken, and the ends produced by the break respectively connected to terminals A and B of the paralleled coils I20, and He.

The-control switch S may be of a form such as described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 252,523, filed January 24, 1939. In general, it comprises two serially arranged portions; the function of one portion is to select between a direct circuit closure and.

closure through a voltage-limiting device, while the function of the other portion is to complete momentarily the selected closure.

The first portion of the switch S may typically comprise a switch pole 35 pivoted as at point 3| extending therefrom generally upwardly to be thrown in an are between stationary stop members 3i, and carrying a contact button 35a in its right-angularly twisted upper end portion 35b; and two contact springs 4| and 42, with respective contact points Ma and 42a, adapted to be contacted by button 35a when the pole 35 is respectively in its first (righthand) and second (lefthand) positions. The second portion of the switch S may comprise a switch pole 3| pivoted at the same point.3| (and thus electrically connected with pole 35 abovementioned), and extending therefrom generally downwardly to be thrown in a somewhat smaller are between stationary stop members 33; and a stationary contact 30 passed over and temporarily contacted by pole 3| in each of the throws of that pole. Pole 3| is toggled to the pole 35 as by spring 34 tensioned between pins 3|a and 35a extending forwardly from intermediate points on the respective poles, the pole 3| thus being thrown in response to each throw of pole 35. Pole 35 may be thrown directly or in any convenient manner; by way of example there has been shown a rod 31 pivotally secured to pole 35 and passing left- Wardly therefrom through an aperture 38' in panel 38, to terminate in a knob 4|) which may be pushed and pulled toward and away from the panel to throw the pole. Pole 35 may be subjected only to the bias of the toggle spring 34 urging it to retain each of its two positions, or if desired may be biased into a predeterminedone of those positions by a sufficiently strong spring 39.

Conductor 2| may be connected to contact 30;

conductor 22 may be connected to spring 42 directly, and to spring 4| through the voltage-limiting resistance 25 bridged between the springs. The springs 4| and 42 are arranged so that as pole 35 is moved toward either spring, that spring will be contacted by the pole materially before the pole reaches its extremity of movement in that direction, the spring flexing as that movement is completed. Accordingly as the pole 35 is moved leftwardiy from its first (illustrated) position to its second position, it will first quit contact with the spring 4|, next make contact with spring 42, and finally-when the toggle spring 44 has been carried just past the pivoting point 3|'will cause the leftward throw of the pole 3|; the momentary closure of pole 3| against contact 30 will now cause the supply through conductor 22 of a current pulsation at the full voltage of the source 20 (i. e., free of any limitation by the voltage-limiting resistance 25). Conversely, as the pole 35 is moved from its second to its first position, it will first quit contact with the spring 42, next make contact with the spring 4|, and finally will cause the rightward throw of the pole 3|; in this instance the momentary closure of pole 3| against the contact 30 will cause the supply through conductor 22 of a. current pulsation at a voltage limited by the resistan'ce 25. 'The duration of the current pulsation supplied on each throw of the control switch is of course determined by the duration of the contact of 3| with 30; this may be predetermined at desired value by apportionment of the length of the contact 30 in the direction of the throw. the tension of spring 34, and the effective mass of pole 3|--the latter being regulable as by suitable weighting of its extremity, indicated as 32.

It will be understood that the higheror fullvoltage current pulsation supplied on leftward throw of the switch S will be effective to actuate both the solenoid l2 and the electromagnet II; the solenoid actuation will attract tle plunger |4 leftwardly and move the movable system to its second position. The electromagnet actuation will move the latch downwardly to its release position, but immediately at the cessation of the pulsation the latch will fly back into its normal position-in time, as above explained, to catch the plunger lug Hi and thus to hold the movable system in its second position. It will further be understood that the loweror limited-voltage current pulsation supplied on rightward throw of the switch S will be efiective to actuate only the electromagnet II; the latch |5 will be moved downwardly to release the plunger lug l6, and

under the influence of spring 5 the plunger will move rightwardly and will carry the movable system to its first position. The supply to the solenoid of the reduced current, although this is insufiicient for movement of the plunger leftwardly against the force of spring 5, will operate to reduce the eflective rightward bias of the plunger and hence the lug pressure against the latch l5, thereby facilitating the releasing or disengaging movement of the latch.

In the system as so described the movable system is very effectively constrained into step, and maintained in step, with the control means. Thus upon'suDply of the full-voltage current it is impossible for the movable system to be placed in its rightward or first position; the solenoid keeps the plunger in its most leftward position for so long as the latch is in release position, and so prevents the latch release from having any actual effect on the plunger. And upon supply of the reduced-voltage current it is impossible for the movable system to be placed in its leftward or second position; the weakness or" the solenoid energization prevents its having an effect on the plunger any more than partially counteractive of the. rightward biasing force of spring 5. Although there are thus maintained predetermined positional and motional relationships between the movable system and the control switch, it is conceivable that on some occasion this relationship will be reversed, as by some ill-advised, purely mechanical manipulation of one or more of the components. The system will be seen, however, to restore the predetermined relationship upon the very first throw of the switch S following such a reversal.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 separate electromagnetic devices are employed for provoking the respective movements of the movable system; my invention, however, is not limited to such a separation, and in Figure 2 I have illustrated an embodiment wherein these devices are combined into a single unit. In this embodiment there may again be employed the control switch S and the movable system comprising lever I, and their first and second positions may be considered respectively the same as in Figure 1. The solenoid I2 and its plunger |4 may also again be employed; but by way of alternative illustration the expansion spring 5 of Figure 1 immediately efiective on the plunger M has been replaced by a tension spring 6 immediately effective on the lever (spring [8 preferably being appropriately strengthened so that it still expands only after the lever I has reached its lefthand or second position). At the lefthand end of the solenoid I2, and extending a short distance inwardly of the solenoid, there is secured a short pole member III; and this pole member, together with the coil I20 of the solenoid, is employed in replacement of the electromagnet II of Figure 1. While an armature,

latch, latch member and plunger lug are again.

employed for their former functions, such elements are shown in a re-arrangement appropriate to the modified construction. Thus the latch member 511 (preferably, like member I5a, light and small) may be of inverted L-shape, pivoted in the region of its angle and carrying the armature II3 near the lower extremity of its vertical leg, opposite the pole III; a normal spacing of armature from pole may be effected by spring II'I biasing the latch member 511 clockwise into contact with stationary stop member II9. The latch proper, II5,is formed downwardly from the righthand extremity of the horizontal leg of the member 511, above the solenoid I2. The plunger lug, II, is now formed upwardly from the lefthand extremity of a horizontal rod Ilia, from whose righthand extremity a connecting arm IIIib extends downwardly to be secured to the plunger end portion Ilb so that the lug is again effectively carried by the plunger.

In Figure 2 the control switch S has been purely schematically illustrated, in view of its permissible identity with that of Figure 1. The terminals A and B of the electromagnetic means are simply the terminals of the coil I20. No special resistance such as III has been illustrated in Figure 2; the components, including the coil I20 and the springs, are simply so apportioned that while either the fullor reduced-voltage current supply will move the armature H3 (1. e., effectively actuate the electromagnetic device which includes the armature), only the fullvoltage current supply will move the plunger and of any force by the solenoid or other device, and the term actuation only In connection with the production of an actual movement-eflecting force.

While I have disclosed my invention in terms of two particular embodiments thereof, I do not intend that all its aspects be limited by details of those embodiments, which obviously may be widely varied without departure from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In some of the appended claims I undertake to express that a scope broadly, subject however to such proper limitations as the state of the art may impose.

I claim:

.1. In an electrically operable control, the combination of a biased member; means actuable by current only at voltageexceeding a predetermined value for moving said member against its bias; a latch for holding said member moved against its bias; means, actuable by current at voltage substantially less than said predetermined value, for moving said latch for release of said member; and a pair of electrical terminals common to said member-moving and latch-moving means whereby current is supplied to them jointly.

2. In an electrically operable control, the combination of a biased plunger; a solenoid actuable by current only at voltage exceeding a predetermined value for moving said plunger against its bias; a latch for holding said plunger moved against its bias; electromagnetic means, actuable by current atvoltage substantially less than said predetermined value, for moving said latch for movable system leftwardly (i. e., efiectively actuate the electromagnetic device which includes the plunger). A yieldable bumper or stop for leftward plunger movement may if desired be provided, having been shown as the felt or like button I08 secured to the righthand extremity of the pole III.

The operation of the embodiment of Figure 2 is fundamentally similar to that of the embodiment of Figure 1. Thus upon supply of the higheror full-voltage current pulsation the plunger I4 will be moved leftwardly, into contact for example with the stop I08; under this condition the lug IIG will be ina position (such as indicated at 11c) spaced at least slightly leftwardly from the latch Hi, the lever I will be in second (leftward) position, and the spring II will be somewhat expanded. The latch II5 will of course be raised out of the path of the lug simultaneously with the plunger movement, but upon termination of the current supply the latch will immediately drop down into'that path; it will then retain the ing in the position indicated as H, with the plunger somewhat spaced from the stop I08 and with the lever I still in second posirelease of said plunger; and a pair of electrical terminals common to said plunger-moving and latch-moving means whereby current is supplied to them jointly.

3. In an electrically operable control, the combination of a member biased to a first position; a latch for holding said member in a second position displaced from said first position against the bias of the member; means actuable by current only at voltage exceeding a predetermined value for moving said member from its first to beyond tion. Upon supply of the reducedor lower-voltzation" is used in connection with the production its said first and second positions, and yielding means included in said connection for permitting the movement of said member beyond its said second position.

5. In an electrically operable control, the combination of a biased member; an electromagnetic device actuable by current only at voltage exceeding a predetermined value for moving said member against its bias; a latch for said member; and an electromagnetic device actuable by current at voltage substantially less than said predetermined value for operating said latch, said electromagnetic devices having a common coil.

6. In an electrically operable control, the comby current only at voltage exceeding a predetermined value for moving said plunger-against its bias; a latch for said plunger; and an electromagnet actuable by current at voltage substantially less than said predetermined value for operbination of a biased plunger; a solenoid actuable v I 2,262,061 ating said latch, said solenoid and electromagnet having a common coil,

7. In an electrically operable control, the combination ofa biased plunger; a solenoid, comprising a coil, for moving said plunger against its bias; a latch for holding said plunger moved against its bias; a pole associated with said coil and forming therewith an electromagnet; and

vmeans, including an armature positioned for attraction by said pole, for rendering said latch responsive to said electromagnet.

8. In an electrically operable control, the combination of a biased member; means actuable by current only at voltage exceeding a predetermined value for moving said member against its bias; a latch for holding said member moved against its bias; and means, actuable by a momentary current impulse at voltage substantially less than said predetermined value, for moving said latch for release 01 said member, said latchmoving means being connected with said mem her-moving means for Joint energization therewith. w

9. In an electrically operable control, the'combination of a member biased to a first position and movable therefrom to and beyond a second position; a latch, biased to member-engaging position, for holding said member in said second position; means actuated only by current supply at voltage exceeding a predetermined value to move said member to beyond said second posi-, tion; and means concomitantly actuatedby the same current supply to move said latch out of member-engaging position, said member ,being responsive to its bias upoii cessation of said cur-' rent supply to move to its second position, said latch being more rapidly responsive to its bias upon said cessation to move to member-engaging position, and said second-mentioned means being also actuableby current supply at voltage less than said predetermined value to move said latch out of member-engaging position, .whereby to permit said member to move to said first position in response to its bias.

10. In an electrically operable control, the combination of a member biased to a first position and movable therefrom to and beyond a second position; a latch, biased to memberengaging position, for holding said member in said second position; means actuated only by current supply at voltage exceeding a predetermined value to move said member to beyond said second position; and means concomitantly actuated by the same current supply to move said latch out of member-engaging position, said member being responsive to its bias upon cessa ,tion of said current supply to move to its second position, said latch being more rapidly responsive to its bias upon said cessation to move to member-engaging position, and said secondmentioned means being also actuable by a momentary current supply at voltage less than said predetermined value to move said latch out'of member-engaging position, whereby to permit said member to move to said first position in response to its bias. I

. RICHARD M. SOMERS. 

